Mission Team to Spencer

The first weekend in May, the Missions and Evangelism Committee (M & E) sent thirteen people from First Presbyterian Church went to Spencer to work repairing flood-damaged homes there. In late June 2024 the Little Sioux and Ocheyedan Rivers, which have their confluence in Spencer, both flooded, leaving the community of 11,300 people inundated. A large proportion of the homes and businesses were touched by water, and people are still displaced and struggling to get their homes repaired.

Meeting with the homeowner at the start of the day

The mission team stayed at Lakeshore Center on Okoboji, enjoying the beautiful views of the lake during downtime. On Saturday morning, they travelled to Spencer where most of the group spent the day tearing down paneling and installing drywall in the basement of a home. Some of the group travelled around Spencer, completing different, smaller jobs: yard

cleanup, priming a basement, and removing staples from the ceiling of a local pastor’s basement. Pastor LaCosta connected with the head of Clay County’s long-term recovery, who explained much more about the lingering effects of the flooding and the continuing impact on the community. The mission team had worship on the deck at Lakeshore before heading home on Sunday.

Hanging a piece of drywall

One home the group worked on belonged

to a woman who had moved at least eight times since the flood – hotel, FEMA trailer, apartment, etc. – with her son and his wife. Her biggest wish, at 100+ years old, is to die in her home. Her son has been working hard to get her home ready for her to return home, and our group was happy to be God’s hands and feet.

A smaller group stayed at camp and sorted medical supplies and put together first aid kits for the summer camp season, as well.

Worshipping on the deck at Lakeshore Center on Okoboji, a.k.a. camp

M & E is looking forward to leading another trip to Spencer sometime this fall. They are interested in having more volunteers join them. If you are interested in having a good time while working to help others, be looking for information and complete the interest survey when you receive it.

The mission team